Bituminous composition package and method of applying same



Jan. 29, 1963 K. 'r. SNYDER 3,075,640

BITUMINOUS COMPOSITION PACKAGE AND METHOD OF APPLYING SAME I Filed Dec. 14, 1959 IN V EN TOR.

A ro/M46)? I Ken/7 effi 7. Jaye er United Sttes This invention relates to a new and improved bituminous composition package and method of applying same.

In United States patent application Serial No. 818,529, a bituminous composition is disclosed which has permanent or substantially permanent adhesive and sealing characteristics in addition to other desirable qualities.

An object of this invention is to provide a package for said bituminous composition disclosed in said patent application wherein the bituminous composition is preformed by extruding or otherwise forming same into elongate strips or other desired shapes and wherein such preformed composition is protected from adhering to adjacent stips or sections thereof during storage and is also protected from contamination by foreign bodies in use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved method of applying the bituminous composition of said patent application wherein a preformed strip or section of said composition is applied to one surface of an object such as a pipe joint to be sealed, and wherein such preformed strip or section has a releasable protective cover on the external portion thereof to protect the preformed composition against contamination by water, rocks, dirt and other foreign bodies prior to placing such external portion of the preformed composition in contact with another surface for sealing with same.

A particular object of this invention is to provide a new and improved bituminous composition package and method of using same for the sealing of pipe joints between pipe sections wherein a sealing strip or gasket is formed of said bituminous composition and is provided with at least one releasable protective strip which is temporarily adhered thereto, and preferably with one releasable protective strip temporarily adhered to each side of the sealing strip or gasket, and wherein such package is applied to a pipe joint surface on one pipe section with one releasable protective strip thereon which is subsequently released from the sealing strip or gasket for exposing the covered portion of the sealing strip or gasket for sealing contact with a pipe joint surface on another pipe section adjacent to said one pipe section.

The preferred embodiment of this invention will be described hereinafter, together with other features thereof, and additional objects will become evident from such description.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings formed a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one form of the package of this invention wherein a bituminous composition is in a preformed section between protective coverings on each side thereof, and with a portion of one of such protective coverings pulled back;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a modified form of the package of this invention wherein a single layer or sheet of the protective covering material is utilized in conjunction with the preformed section or strip of the bituminous composition to form the package;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view illustrating the end of a section of pipe which is to be sealed at the joint or connection to an adjacent section of pipe, and to which the package of this invention is being applied;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, except that the protective covering has been removed from the preformed atnt ice section of the bituminous composition in the package; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a pipe joint formed with the preformed section of the bituminous composition which has been positioned at the joint by means of the package of this invention.

Heretofore, in the forming of pipe joints between sections of concrete pipe, cast iron pipe, or similar types of pipe, several standard ways have been employed. In some instances, cement mortar has been hand applied to the joint between adjacent sections of the concrete pipe after the sections of the pipe are positioned in the ditch in their final abutting contact. The cement mortar is normally placed in the pipe joint by trowelling or other similar hand methods. Such type of joint is extremely difiicult to apply and it cannot be satisfactorily applied in a ditch which has any substantial amount of water therein at the time of the sealing of the joint. Additionally, the cement requires a period for curing before the cement is hard enough to be satisfactory. Therefore, whether or not a cement mortar type of joint is satisfactory depends upon the quality of the workmanship during the mixing of the cement mortar and also during the application thereof to the pipe joint. Additionally, the conditions under which the cement mortar is applied will adversely affect the type of seal obtain'ed. Also, even after the cement mortar dries, assuming that it is initially satisfactory, it is subject to cracking upon a shifting of the adjacent sections of the pipe at the joint. Therefore, generally speaking, the cement mortar type of joint is highly unsatisfactory.

Various types of solvent mastics and plastics have been employed for sealing pipe joints, but they must be applied after the pipe sections are positioned in the ditch adjacent to each other in the abutting contact. Once the solvent mastic or plastic is mixed or is exposed to the air, it must be used very quickly or otherwise the solvent will evaporate and the adhesive or sealing material will lose its ability to seal. Therefore, there can be no preliminary preparation of a pipe joint with the solvent type of sealing composition. Additionally, the solvent type of sealing composition is inflammable and even explosive and produces toxic odors. Therefore, the solvent types of sealing compositions have generally been undesirable, but have been widely used for lack of a better material.

Another previously used method for forming pipe joint seals has been the use of asphalts or other adhesives which are heated and are poured into the pipe joints. In some instances, the pipe joints are provided with a trough or form extending substantially entirely around the joint and the hot asphalt or other adhesive is poured into such form which holds the adhesive until it cools and hardens. Such joints can obviously be formed only after the pipe sections are in the ditch or are otherwise in the final position. The quality of the seal depends upon the skill of the workmen and the care in applying the hot asphalt or other adhesive. If bubbles or air spaces are permitted to accumulate in the adhesive when it is hot, the seal will be defective. It is therefore believed evident that the hot pour type of sealing material has numerous disadvantages.

Another type of seal for pipe joints is a rubber seal or gasket which does eliminate some of the disadvantages of the previous types of seals mentioned above since it does not depend upon the skill and workmanship of the man-in the field to the same extent as the other methods described above. However, the rubber type of gasket for sealing pipe joints is considered undesirable because of the fact that the rubber does not readily conform to irregularities in the surfaces of the pipe joint. The surfaces of the pipe joint on concrete pipe are not formed with the precision of machined metal parts and therefore the rubber gasket must conform to substantial irregularities if a complete and reliable seal is to be obtained.

Furthermore, the rubber gasket must necessarily be relatively hard and non-porous in order to be effective and to retain suificient shape for sealing. Such requirements further prevent the necessary conformance of the rubber to the surfaces of the pipe joint. Special lubricants are also normally required in connection with the use of rubber gaskets for pipe joints and special tools are also generally required to force the pipe sections together with the rubber seal at the joint.

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of such previous methods and provides a convenient, simple and readily useable package and method of applying same to pipe joints so that a highly desirable seal and a substantially permanent seal is obtained at such joints. Briefly, the present invention includes a bituminous composition package and a method of applying same wherein the package A (FIG. 1) includes a preformed strip or section of a bituminous composition, the details of which are disclosed in the aforesaid patent application, Serial No. 818,529, and which will be more fully referred to hereinafter. The preformed strip or section 10 has two broad sides and two narrow sides. One protective covering 11 is temporarily adhered to one of the broad sides but is releasable therefrom. In the preferred form of the invention, a second protective covering 12 is temporarily adhered to the other broad side of the strip or section 10 opposite from the other protective covering 11. In that way, the protective coverings 11 and 12 completely protect the section or strip 10 to prevent contamination thereof. Also, when such packages A are placed together in a container, the protective coverings 11 and 12 prevent the sticking or adhering of adjacent strips or sections 10.

The protective coverings 11 and 12 may he formed of any material which is adapted to be temporarily adbored to the bituminous strip or section 10, but which is readily releasable therefrom without pulling or removing any of the bituminous strip or section 10 with the protective covering as it is released. Also, since the protective covering may be exposed to rain or moisture during the use thereof, which will be explained hereinafter, it is highly desirable to provide a covering material which has water resistance and sufiicient wet-strength to prevent separation upon becoming wet. Preferably, the covering strips 11 and 12 are formed of kraft paper which is coated on at least one surface thereof with silicone or a similar coating which will temporarily adhere to the bituminous strip 10 but which will permit the release therefrom without removing the bituminous composition therewith. Polyethylene and other plastics may also be used for the covering strips 11 and 12.

As previously explained, the bituminous composition used for the preformed strip or section 10 is the composition described in United States patent application Serial No. 818,529 and it includes a petroleum derived bitumen residual which is the residual bitumen or product resulting from the distillation of petroleum. Such bitumen residual should have a Saybolt-Furol viscosity at 210 F. of from about seconds to about 250 seconds. Such residual should also have a minimum flash point (Cleveland Open Cup) of about 475 F. as determined by the A.S.T.M. test D92-56, and the specific gravity as determined by A.S.T.M. test D71-52 should be between about 0.95 and 1.04, with the preferred range being 0.97 to 1.00. The prefered range for the Saybolt- Furol viscosity at 210 F. is from about 100 seconds to about 200 seconds. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the Saybolt-Furol viscosity is determined by the A.S.T.M. D88-44 procedure. It will also be understood that the designation A.S.T.M. as used herein identifies the American Society for Testing Materials and the tests are those specified by such group. The bitumen residual which is used in the composition of this invention should also have a low temperature susceptibility factor. As is well known, the susceptibility factor is calculated by dividing the penetration of the asphalt or other material at 77 F. by the penetration at 32 F. Such penetrations are obtained by the standard A.S.T.M. test designated D21748. Using such basis for calculating the susceptibility factor, the bitumen residual in the composition of this invention should have a susceptibility factor not greater than 6 and preferably from about 2 to about 4. Also, the bitumen residual should be adhesive rather than unctuous and that can be determined readily by observation and contact. In other words an adhesive residual will tend to stick to the fingers when contacted by the fingers but an unctuous residual will have an oily feel and will not be adhesive or stick to the fingers.

The composition includes an additive which includes finely ground material and/or fibrous material so that the composition remains pliable or workable and also sag-resistant at temperatures at least as high as 300 F. There are a number of finely ground materials and fibrous materials which will serve as the additive or additives in the composition. By way of example, the finely ground material or materials may be bentonite, diatomaceous earth, colloidal clays, talc, slate four and silicates, each of which should be fine enough to pass standard mesh screens from 100 to 400 in size. It is desirable, and in some cases essential to provide a fibrous material such as asbestos, Wollastonite or other magnesium silicate which is chemically inert to acid and alkali resistant materials may be employed. For example, diatomaceous earth, ground vegetable or mineral fibers, cotton linters, rice hulls, jute, hemp, bagasse and other knolwn organic or inorganic fibrous materials may be use It is important to note that the components set forth above would not have a solvent therewith, and no portion of the composition is subject to evaporation or drying.

To illustrate the composition more specifically, the following specific examples or embodiments of the composition are set forth, but it is to be understood that such examples are by way of illustration and are not to be construed as limiting.

Tests on Final Product Example I Example II Example III Example IV Specific Gravity, ASTM D7152 1.05 1.20 Wt./Gal., Specific Gravity x 8.33.. 8.75.- 10.00.- 1 30 i'z Flash Po1nt(COC),ASTM D92-56 475 13. mini- 475 F. mini- 47'5" F.1nini- 11111111. Soft Point, ASTM D36-26 150 r. minlsfi f immi- 350 1 mim- Ductility 77 F., ASTM 13113-44 10 f mmk 3 :ini-

mum mum mum.

Percent Finely Ground and Fibrous Material b W l ht,

AASHO T. 111-42. y e g 5 307 Percent Bitumen by Weight, ASIM D4-52 70 7 45 7 Pingtpatlon Cone, ASTM D217-48 77 F., 5 sec., 200 gm., 170 115 40. a

o a Petngtpation Cone, ASTM D217-48 32 F., 60 sec., 300 gm., 210 160 115.

o a Petmzgation Cone, AS'IM D217-48 115 F., 5 sec., gm, 250 140 40.

In the foregoing examples, the ASTM designations refer to the well known tests of the American Society for Testing Materials, as previously explained. The test for the percentage of the finely ground and/or fibrous material is an AASHO test and is also a well known test established by the American Association of State Highway Officials.

The percentage of the bitumen or bitumen residual in the composition may vary from about 45% by weight to about 95% by weight, the amount depending to some extent upon the particular application for the composition. The bitumen referred to in the foregoing examples is the petroleum derived bitumen residual described previously in this specification and should have the properties previously referred to herein. The percentage of the additives, namely, finely ground material and the fibrous material, may vary between about by weight and 55% by weight, and generally such materials are present in a mixture with equal parts of each material. In each of the above examples, the finely ground material was bentonite and the fibrous material was asbestos and they were present in equal amounts. Such materials are intimately mixed with the residual with standard mixing equipment. By way of further example, each of the foregoing examples may be varied by using as the additive all of one of the fibrous materials previously set forth or all of one of the finely ground materials, or a mixture of any of such materials, in the various percentages set forth in the Examples I through IV. In such instances, the other properties of the materials in each of such examples would be the same.

Although the package A of this invention preferably includes the protective coverings 11 and 12 on opposite sides of the preformed strip or section of the composition, as previously explained, the composition strip 10 may be packaged with only a single protective covering or strip 11. For example, if a plurality of strips of the composition 10 are to be packaged in relatively long lengths, the single protective covering or strip 10* between each of the composition strips 10 would prevent the composition strips 10 from adhering to each other. With such construction of the package, both sides of the protective covering 11 would be coated with silicon or would otherwise be provided with a coating or a material which would release from the composition 10 since the composition 10 would be contacting both sides of each of the protective coverings or strips 11.

In FIG. 2, a modified package A-l is illustrated wherein a single protective covering 11 is employed with the preformed strip or section 10. The package A-1 is formed by rolling the preformed strip or section 10 and the protective covering 11 therewith into the coil shown in FIG. 2. The protective covering 11 would have a silicone coating on each side thereof since both sides of the protective covering 11 contact the preformed strip or section 10. Of course, it will be understood that other materials besides the kraft paper with the silicone may be employed as previously explained so long as both sides of the covering 11 are releasable from the composition strip or section 10 when such release is desired.

In addition to the several packages previously described the package of this invention may take other forms. For example, the protective covering 11 may be shaped like a sack and the preformed section 10 of the composition may be confined therein.

In the use of the package of this invention the composition has preferably been extruded or otherwise formed into the desired shape for ultimate use and the package preferably formed at the place of manufacture of the composition into such desired shape or form. As previously explained, one of the most troublesome problems in the industry today resides in the forming of seals between adjacent sections of concrete pipe and other types of pipe. The various disadvantages and problems in connection with the forming of such sealed pipe joints with the previously known methods have been discussed above. Therefore, by way of illustration, the method of this invention will be described in connection with the applying of the package of this invention to a pipe joint or to surfaces between adjacent ends of concrete pipe sections.

The method of this invention is therefore partially illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. In FIG. 3, one end of a section of concrete pipe P is shown with the package A being applied to the flanged end 20 of the pipe P. The package A as shown in FIG. 3 includes the preformed strip or section of the composition 10 to which is adhered a protective covering 11. If the package A includes an additional protective covering 12 (FIG. 1) such protective covering 12 is stripped or released from the composition strip or section 10 prior to positioning the package A as shown in FIG. 3. The composition strip or section 10 is directly positioned on the flanged end 20 of the pipe P (FIG. 3) so as to seal therewith. The protective covering 11 remains on the exterior of the portion of the composition strip 10 which is unattached to the pipe P. Such protective covering 11 may be left on the composition strip 10 even after the strip 1% is completely positioned on the flanged end 20 so as to provide a protection for the composition strip 10 against contamination by water, rocks, dirt and other foreign bodies or material. In that way, the composition strip 10 is protected until such time as it is ready for sealing contact with an adjacent pipe P' (FIG. 5).

Because of the nature of the composition forming the strip 10, as previously explained, the strip 10 does not become hard or dry even after extended periods of exposure. Therefore, the package A may be placed upon the flanged end 20 of the pipe P prior to positioning the pipe P in a ditch or other location where it is to be used. In fact, it is even possible to apply the package A at the factory where the pipe P is made and the pipe P may then be shipped to the point of use in the field with the package A already thereon.

When it is desired to form the pipe joint between the sections of the pipe P and P, the section of pipe P which has the package A thereon is further prepared by releasing or stripping the protective covering 11 from the composition 10 to leave the composition 10 exposed on the flanged end 20 (FIG. 4).

If the pipe P is not already in the ditch or other location where it is to be positioned in use, the pipe P is then lowered into the ditch or other position for use and the adjacent section of Pipe P is forced or moved into the abutting relationship shown in FIG. 5 with the composition 10 between the ends of the pipe sections P and P. Because of the nature of the composition of the preformed strip, such seal is readily made without requiring any extreme force to bring the sections of the pipes P and P together as in the case of rubber gaskets. Also, the composition strip 10 readily conforms to any irregularities in the pipes P and P. The curing time which is required for other types of sealing materials is eliminated due to the nature of the composition of the strips 10 and a permanent seal is thus obtained without the disadvantages of the previously known materials and methods.

It will be understood that FIGS. 3-5 merely illustrate one type of pipe joint construction which is customarily used, but obviously the package and method of this invention may be employed with any type of pipe joint. Also, it will be evident that the method of this invention and the package used therewith may be employed for the sealing of any adjacent surfaces. Also, it is to be understood that the invention herein is not limited to the sealing of joints of concrete pipe, because such method may be employed in conjunction with the sealing of other materials such as ceramic, steel, or the like. It is therefore believed that the advantages of the package and the methods. of this invention are evident from the foregoing description.

What is claimed is:

A package of pipe joint sealing material, comprising an elongate strip of solid pliable preformed pipe joint sealing material of an adhesive sealing bituminous composition which is of a non-solvent, non-drying type and comprising two broad opposite sides and two narrow opposite sides, and a releasable protective covering on each broad side of said preformed pipe joint sealing material, the longitudinal edges of said protective coverings being releasable from each other throughout the length thereof to enable either of said coverings to be released by pulling thereon at any point throughout such length, one of said coverings temporarily adhering to said preformed pipe joint sealing material but being releasable from one of said broad sides for sealing the bituminous composition to an object while the other protective covering re- 8 mains on the other broad side of said pipe joint sealing material to protect same but being also releasable for effecting the seal at a pipe joint.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,955,175 CroWther Apr. 17, 1934 2,138,946 Trickey Dec. 6, 1938 2,454,821 McKee Nov. 30, 1948 2,615,754 Lindenberg Oct. 28, 1952 2,735,705 Johnson et al Feb. 21, 1956 2,745,546 Fischer et al May 15, 1956 2,804,205 Barton et al Aug. 27, 1957 2,866,542 Svirchev Dec. 30, 1958 2,871,553 Binder Feb. 3, 1959 2,904,419 Couch et al Sept. 15, 1959 

